Tawing skins



40 and an alkali, such as potash.

" {UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC FRANK DlETSOH, or wooDBUnY FALLS, ew Youn TAwme SKINS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 287,255, dated October 23, 1883.

I Application filed January 24,188 3. [No specimens.)

on the flesh side thereof, so as to produce a smooth surface and puta face on the skins and 1 cause the same to resemble California Indiantanned buckskin; This is accomplished by applying a coiinposiliou to the flesh side of the 1.15 leather or skins, and then smoking the same, .the term skins, as used in the following 3 specification, being used in the sense of tanned skins or leather, .[t is known that skins, afl; ter being tanncd,possess an uneven or rough izo surface, dueto the naps or fibers which rise y upfrom the surface. This is. the case with i what is called the f flesh side of the skin. 1 As is known, the skins are frequently skived, by which operation that part of the skin which 2 5 forms the hair side or outside is'taken off, i this part being largely used for such purposes as sweat-lcatliier for hats and the like, and be ing known as the grain. The inner part,

, of theskin is called the flesherfi is ve'ry'softv and pliable and agreeable to the touch, and is adapted for such purposes as the manufacture of gloves and the like. For such purposes, however, it is advantageous that the flesher should have a perfectly smooth face, so as to 3 5 be acceptableto theeye and to the touch, and to imitate California Indian-tanned buckskin.

In order toproduce this smooth face and to lay the naps, I use a composition consisting of water, oil, soap, and an adhesive (gum or glue) The object of the adhesive is to render the mixture cohesive, and cause it to lay the napsand hold them tothe face of the skins, while the object of the oil, alkali, and soap is to render the mixture 4 5 soft and glossy and prevent its cracking eitherwhen dry or when the leather is bent. c0111- sequently anyproportion of these ingredients which will accomplish these obj ects-namely, rendering the mixture adhesive, and also leav ,swerthepurpose. 1' have found satisfactory results to be obtained by observing the follow With respect to the oil, I would recommend such oils as vegetable oils, or neatsfo0t oil, or horse-oil. oil--are not satisfactory. I

l/Vith respect tothe glue, it should be observed that the same'may be replaced by another adhesive-such as gum or shellac-and as regards such adhesives as possess stronger adhesive qualities than glue, the proportion of such adhesive creased.

It is to be remarked that in the above commay be correspondii'igly de position the oil and potash will form soap,-and that therefore it is possible to dispense with the soap and still obtain a satisiactory mixture; but it is well to add the soap, as the same gives a consistency to the mixture,

The above-named composition of matter is applied to the skins with a sponge, cloth, brush, or by any convenient means, and isleft to dry. Several coatings may be applied in succession until the result is satisfactory, and Ihave generally found good results to be ob tainedbythe application of two coatings.

The process of applying'or spreading the composition over the skins, as is seen, is very simple and rapidly accomplished, and as the mixture can be readily inade, the manner of treatment possesses the advantage of consuming but little time, labor, or money.

This composition is applied tothe flesher, the result being to put a face on the flesher. It is to be remarked that before applying this composition it is well to grind a smooth face onto the ilesher, an emery-wheel being adapted for this purpose. i

As this composition causes the fiesher to become soft and pliable, so that it does not easily crack or break, the value of the flesher is con siderably increased, and it obtains a betterprice in the market.

It should also be remarked that after the Somekinds of oils-such as fishfiesher has been treated with the composition it is smoked, which deepens the color and causes the flesher to assume the appearance of California Indian-tanned buckskin. It is also to be remarked that this process can be applied to the flesh side of skins without the grain having been first removed, and upon being removed the whole skin will present the appearance of California Indian-tanned buckskin; but as the fleshers from which the grain has been removed are cheaper to be obtained, and as the removal of the grain also enables the latter to be used for other purposes, as already mentioned, the process in practice is applied only. to fleshers from which the grain has been removed.

F. n. DIETSOH. 1 s] Witnesses:

WV. 0. HAUFF, E. F. KAsTENHUBER.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 287 ,255, granted October 23, 1883, upon the application of Frank E. Dietseh, of Woodbnry Falls, New York, for an improvement in Taming Skius,an error appears requiring correction, as follows; in line 8, page 2, of the printed specification, the word removed should read smoked and that the patent. should be read with this eorieetion therein to make it conform to the record of the ease in the Patent Ofllce.

Signed, counter-signed, and sea-led this 30th day of October, A. D. 1883.

M. L. JOSLYN,

[SEAL] Acting Secretary of the Interior. Counter-signed:

E. M. MARBLE,

Commissioner of Patents. 

